Label dispensing and moistening machine



June 25, 1935. A. A GRANGE 2,005,898

LABEL DISPENSING AND MOISTENING MACHINE Filed 001'.. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lag/ange wma/15 June 25, 1935. A. A GRANGE LABEL DSPENSING AND MOISTENING MACHINE Filed OCE.. 24, 1933 2 SheelZs--Sheekl 2 c@ La giunga Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABEL DISPENSING AND` MOISTENING MACHINE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to labelsand more particularly to a dispensing means for dispensing moistened labels.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for dispensing labels `which may be applied to articles of different kinds and which are dispensed with the gummed portion thereof moistened'and ready for application to the article.

Another object of this invention is to provide aY device of this kind whereby a predetermined length of gummed paper is dispensed from one end of the machine and includes means whereby prior to the dispensing operation, the gummed paper may be addressed or otherwise labeled so that when itis dispensed or projected from the machine in a moistened state, the paper is ready for application to the article to which it is to be applied.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying'drawings whereinzl Figure 1 is a top plan View of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation partly in section of the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I0 designates generally a housing comprising side Walls II and I2, a top Wall I4 and one end wall I3. The opposite end of thehousing I0 is open, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

The housing Il] is supported in upstanding relation to a desired support by means of legs I4 and I5 engaging the side walls II and I2, respectively. The housing I0 is divided by means of a partition or inner wall I6 and a second partition or inner wall I1 into a water chamber I8, a paper receiving chamber I9, and an end chamn ber 20. The lower edge of the wall or partition IB is turned up, as at 2l, and is spaced from a bottom member 22 so that the paper in the chamber i9 may be passed between the lower edge 2l and the bottom 22, the purpose for which will b L hereinafter described. A drum 23 is secured to a shaft 24 journaled in the side walls II and I2 and is disposed in the end chamber 20.

An idler roller or pressure member 25 is seM cured to a shaft 26 journaled in the side walls II and I2, and preferably the side walls II and I2 are provided with an elongated bearing slot 21 so that the idler roller 25 may have relative movement toward or away from the roller 23.

A pair of springs 28 are secured `at one end to, the side walls lII and I2 and extend upwardly and engage against the shaft 26 and act to con-- stantly urge the idler roller 25 against the roller 23.

A moistening drum 29 is mounted on a shaft 3U journaled in the side walls II and I2, and is disposed within the water chamber I8, which is positioned at the end opposite from the end chamber 20. The shaft 24 has secured thereto a sprocket or toothed wheel 3I and in like manner, the shaft 30 has a sprocket 32 secured thereto outside of the housing Il).` Preferably, the sprocket 32 is relatively smaller in diameter than the sprocket 3I so that the winding drum 29 will be rotated at a speed relatively faster than the driving drum 23. A chain or exible member 33 is trained over the sprockets 3 and 32 so that the -winding drum 29 will be rotated coactive with the rotation of the power drum 23. A shield or housing 34 is secured to the side wall II and is disposed about the sprockets 3| and 32 and the chain 33, so that these moving parts will be suitably enclosed.

A sleeve 35 is loosely disposed on the shaft 24 and is provided with a hand wheel or operating member 36. A pin 3l extends through the shaft 24 and holds the sleeve 35 against endwise movement on this shaft. A cam wheel 38 is secured to the inner end of the sleeve 35 and is provided with diametrically opposed cam portions 39 a'nd 40. A stop member or lug 4I is secured to the housing 34 and is adapted to be engaged by either of these cam members 39 or 4l) and acts to stop rotation of the wheel 36 after it has made substantially a half turn. A spring 42 is secured at one end to the lug 4I and at the other end to the cam member 38 and acts to return the wheel 36 to operative position. A toothed wheel or ratchet 43 is secured to the shaft 24 and a pawl 44 is carried by the cam member 38 and is adapted to engage the ratchet 43 so that the shaft 24 will be rotated in one direction coactive with the rotation of the wheel 36.

The bottom 22 is slidable on inwardly extending flanges 45 carried by the bottom walls I I and I2, and the confronting edges of these anges 45 are spaced apart a distance so that when the bottom member' 22 is withdrawn as by an oiset handle structure fit, the paper compartment I9 will be exposed so as to permit the insertion of the roll of paper P within this compartment. rIhe inner end of the bottom member 22 is adapted to engage a resilient clamp ll'l having a flaring edge portion so as to facilitate the engagement of this end of the clamp il with the inner end of the bottom 22.

A water tank @.3 is adapted to be disposed in the Water chamber S8 and is provided with a notched portion le within which the shaft 35i is loosely received. rlhe inner portion of the side walls of this tank d8 are provided with upwardly extending portions constituting splash guards so that the water splashed by the moistening drum 29 will not splash out of the tank 48 and iow downwardly therefrom onto the bottom 22 and along this bottom 22 into the paper receiving chamber i9.

The periphery of the drum 29 is provided with an annular groove 5i within which an arm 52 carried by the tank i3 is adapted to engage. This arm 52 constitutes a means whereby the label or gummed strip of paper will be prevented from adhering to the moistening drum t9 and being carried about this drum and submerged in the water of the tank 48.

The strip of paper P is threaded between the rolled edge 2l of the wall i6 and the bottom 22 and is disposed between the two drums or rollers 2S and 25. The top of the housing l@ is provided with a slot 53 so that the strip of paper can be pulled therethrough.

A removable plate or cover 54 provided with marginal flanges 55 is disposed on top of the housing l@ in spaced relation to the top I4 so that the strip of paper P can easily move between this plate 5fi and the top M. The plate 54 has a cut out portion or window 56 adjacent one end thereof and at the end adjacent the moistening drum 29.

A cutting edge 5l is integral with the end of the plate 54 adjacent the drum 29 so that after the label passes the window 56 and is moistened by the drum 29, the label may be lifted up and twisted partially and thereby out by the cutter 5l.

A hand rest 58 is secured to the side wall il and extends over the housing 3d, and is of a sufficient width to provide a rest on which the hand may be conveniently placed during the writing of the desired matter on the label exposed through the window 56.

In the use and operation of this label dispensing andY moistening means, the label, which is preferably in strip form and disposed in a roll, is placed in the paper receiving chamber I3 and threaded between the two rollers r3 and 25. The cover 543 may be removed so as to facilitate the threading of the paper as well as the bottom 22, which may be pulled longitudinally of the housing lli suniciently to expose the end chamber 2Q and the paperreceiving chamber I9, After the paper has been forced between the two rollers 23 and E5, the wheel 36 may be oscillated or turned so as to move the strip of gummed paper over the top l@ and through the slot 53. When the paper has passed the slot 53, the cover 54 can be placed on top of the housing lil and the wheel 35 oscillated suliiciently to move the label for exposure through the window 5E; After the desired material has been written or otherwise placed on the label, the wheel 36 can be oscillated to project the strip of paper P beyond the Cutter 5l and for engagement with the periphery of the moistening drum 29 which, in the present instance, extends slightly above the top iii. The arm 52 will prevent the gummed label moistened by the drum 29 from adhering to the drum and being carried thereby into the tank 33.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the cover 54 may have any desired size of window therein so that labels of different lengths may be used with the same type of machine, that is, the label having a given width within the minimum and maximum width of the cover. These machines may be so built as to accommodate labels of any desired size including length and width.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specically described embodiment of this inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed istl. A label dispensing and moistening means, comprising a. housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed anges carried by the lower edges of the bottom, a bottom wall slidably engaging the flanges, means for releasably holding said wall against movement, a compartment in the housing for holding a strip of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, means for exposing a predetermined length of the strip on the top of the housing, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure on the top of the housing, and means for moistening the strip after it has been exposed on the top of the housing.

2. A label dispensing and moistening means,

comprising a housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed flanges carried by the lower edges of the bottom, a bottom wall slidably engaging the flanges, a compartment in the housing for holding a strip of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, means for exposing a predetermined length of the strip on the top of the housing, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure on the top of the housing, and means for moistening the strip after it has been exposed on the top of the housing.

3. A label dispensing and moistening means, comprising a housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed anges carried by the lower edges of the bottom, a bottom wall slidably engaging the flanges, a compartment in the housing for holding a strip of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, means for exposing a predetermined length of the strip on the top of the housing, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure on the top of the housing, a strip moistening member, and a liquid reservoir for said strip moistening member resting on said bottom wall.

4. A label dispensing and moistening means, comprising a housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed flanges carried by the lower edges of the bottom, a bottom wall slidably engaging the flanges, a compartment in the housing for holding a strip of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, means for exposing a predetermined length of the strip on the top of the housing, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure on the top of. the housing, a strip moistening member, a liquid reservoir for said strip moistening member resting on said bottom wall, and means carried by the bottom Wall for releasably holding the reservoir in operative position.

5. A label dispensing and moistening means, comprising a housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed flanges carried by the lower` edges of the bottom, a bottom Wall slidably engaging the flanges, a compartment in the housing for holding a stripv of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, a cover engaging the top of the housing and having a Window therethrough to expose a predetermined length of label, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure through said Window, and means for moistening the strip after it has been exposed through said Window.

6. A label dispensing and moistening means, comprising a housing open along the bottom thereof, opposed flanges carried by the lower edges of the bottom, a bottom Wall slidably engaging the anges, a compartment in the housing for holding a strip of labels in roll form and opening through the bottom of the housing, a cover engaging the top of the housing and having a Window therethrough to expose a predetermined length of label, :anges carried by the cover and frictionally engaging the housing to detaohably secure the cover to the housing, means for moving a predetermined length of the strip for exposure through Said window, and means for moistening the strip after it has been exposed through said window.

ARTHUR LA GRANGE. 

